Paper handling machine



July 15, 1952 w. F. GATES PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 19, 1947 i1 l Lllll l l l I l IILEJtJIILI I J.

I l I I l l l l l I I I l l l l l lLl l fl I H h" INVENTOR.

Milk

ATTORNEYS.

MLTE/f @512 6 4756.

y 1952 w. F. GATES PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 19, 1947 m m m.wmw-

mm hm k.

ATTORNEYS.

July 15, 1952 w. F. GATES 2,603,484

PAPER HANDLING-MACHINE Filed July 19, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. ML re Ffsa G4 TES.

alla PM ATTORNEYS.

July 15, 1952 I w. F. GATES 2,603,484

PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Z'IG. 1.2

. INVENTOR.

5 41. re 63 50 6475a.

R TORNEYS.

Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE Y. I

' Y L 2,603,484 o PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 7 Walter Fred Gates, Atlanta, Ga. Application July 19, 1947, Serial No. 762,090

This invention relates to paper handling machines and more particularly to machines ofthe type in which the sheet is not turned during successive operations,.but is moved in a series of paths at right angles to each other. 7

In the processing of printed sheets of paper or other material, it is often necessary that the sheets be folded, perforated, ruled, scored or similarly treated. While my invention is adapted to be used in connection with any of such operations, I have herein described it particularly in connection with a folding machine;

Insorne cases theremay be a single fold and in other cases there may be a number of successive folds. Therefore, in order to have amachine which shall be universal, there must initially be a set-up of',say,f our or five folding stations. The initial folding station must be large enough to accommodatethe largest size of unfolded sheet which will be encountered. However, the succeeding 'folding stations may become smaller and smaller, since successive folds reduce the size of the sheet passing through a succeeding section of the machine. 1

.After the required number of folds havebeen made in the sheets, it is desirable that stackin means be provided,'and one such means is known as a" creeping stacker, which generally comprises a conveyor belt'moving at a relatively slow speed, so that as succeeding sheets are. fed onto the creeping stacker, they are stacked thereonshinglewise. In order to .use a creeping stacker with a paper folding machine as outlined. above, the operator has his choice of two alternatives: he must either provide a creeping stacker of appropriate size for each folding station, or he must provide a singlecreeping stacker of sufiicient size to be capable of stacking sheets which have had only a single fold. Such a stacker would, of course, be'larger than necessary for use in succeeding folding stations. Neither of the above alternatives is economically sound.

In the light of the above mentioned problems, it is an object of my invention'to provide a uni-.- versalmachineof the general type outlined above having a plurality of operating stations andhaving conveyors to advance sheetsfrom one-operating station to a cross-feed conveyor, which will advancethem to a succeeding operating station, and to provide means, whereby said conveyor. is capable of occupying two; positions, inone of which it functions as a creeping stackerjsfor that particular operating station;

It is another object of my invention to provide means whereby when said conveyor is shifted, from its conveying positionto its stacking position, it is driven through a different train of gearing, including speedjreducing ,means, so that While in its. upper ,onconveying, position; it will run at normal speed, and in its lower or stacking 21 Claims. (01. 271-76) 2 position, it will run at a greatly reduced speed. Further objects along these lines include the provision of the arrangement as outlined, which is simple in operation and relatively inexpensive in construction, so that it will not add very substantially to the cost of the machine.

In machines of the type outlined there has been difficulty in changing the direction of movement of the sheets as they are fed to successive operating stations, and in this connection, it is an ob- Ject of my invention to provide a novel cross-feed conveyor by means of which the sheets may be accurately fed at right angles to the direction in which they approach the cross-feed conveyors.

Another object ofmy invention involves the provision of a cross-feed conveyor which will grip the leading edges of the sheets-of paper in moving them at right angles to their original pathr The use of ball carriages containingballs which ride on'the conveyor tapes to insure feeding of the paper sheets is well known. -In connection with my novel cross-feed conveyor however, I make certain provisions for longitudinal adjustability, not only of the cross-feed conveyor itself, but of the ball carriages, and I provide for a relative spacing of the two whereby any tendency of the sheets to become skewed will be automatically and instantaneously corrected.

These and other objects ofmy invention, which will be pointed out in more detail hereinafter or which will beapparent to-one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an examplary embodiment. I 7

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a plan View of a first conveyor and a cross-feed conveyor disposed between two succeeding folding stations at right angles to each other.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same showing the first conveyor in its upper or' conveying position. 1 I v 1 Figure 3 is'a view similar to'Figure 2 with'parts broken away to show the construction and showing the first conveyor-in its lower orstacking position. Y V

Figure 4 is a-detailed partial cross-sectional view. taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l on an enlarged scale. Figure 5is a partial sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2; g a

Figure 6 is a plan viewof the'cross-feedconveyor unit with part of the chain broken away to show the construction. l

Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 'l-' l ofFigure 6. V

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the crossfeed conveyor as seen from the bottom of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view ona-n enlarged scale taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a-fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill I'Il of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II--II of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IZ- -IZ of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of a ball carriage of modified construction, corresponding to Figure 2, and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the guide finger assembly.

Briefly in the practice of my invention, I provide between each pair of succeedingfolding stations, a pair of conveyors. The first conveyor receives sheets from the preceding folding station and'advances them tothe cross-feed conveyor, and the cross-feed conveyor advances them at right angles to their then direction of travel to the succeeding folding station. Both of these conveyors are mounted on the same framework and the cross feed conveyor is adjustable longirails I4 and I5. These rails support the shafts I6 and I1, the shaft I6 carrying a number of pulleys I8 and the shaft I'I carrying a roll I9 of substantially the same diameter as the pulleys I8. A numberof tapes pass around the [pulleys I8 and the roll I9 and constitute-the conveying elements. The shaft I6 carries a gear 2I, which as Y seen in Fig. 2 is driven by gearing generally intudinally of the first conveyor and may if desired 7 be entirely removed therefrom. The entire conveyor assembly is mounted for vertical sliding movement in relation to a 'subframe and means are provided for shifting said first conveyor to an upper or conveying position on the one hand, or a lower or stacking position on the other hand. The machine has a source of motive power and two driving connections are provided for the two positions of the conveyor. The driving connection for the lower position includes'speed reduc 7 ing means so that when the conveyor is in its lower position it moves-at a relatively slow speed. 7 The cross feed conveyor is providedwith means for gripping the folded leading edgeof a sheet of k paper so as to advance it at right angles to its direction of travel. A series of balls mounted in ballcarriages ride on the first conveyor to insure proper feeding of the sheets and both the cross conveyor and the ballcarriages areadjustable longitudinally of the first conveyor. In practice the adjustment will be such that taking into consideration the length of the folded sheets in their original direction of travel, they will be advanced to the succeeding folding station substantially centrally thereof, and the ball carriages are adjusted in relation to the cross feed conveyors, so that the balls just clear the trailing edges of the sheets when they are properly gripped, by their leading edges in the cross feed conveyor. In this way if there should be for any reason a tendency-for a sheet to become misaligned, the coaction between the balls and the first conveyor will immediately tend to realign the sheet. v

' Referring now in more detail to the dra'win'gsI have shown in Fig. 1, more or less diagrammatioally at I0, the exist end of a folding station, and at II the entrance end of a succeeding folding station disposed at right angles thereto. Between the folding stations I0 and II I provide a first conveyor, indicated generally at I2, and a cross feed conveyor, indicating generally at I3. Folded sheets from the station I0, advancing folded edge first, are fed in the direction of the arrow A by means of the conveyor I2 to the cross feed conveyor I3, by which they are moved in the direction of the arrow B to the succeeding folding station II.

' The first conveyor The first conveyor comprises 'a pair of spaced dicated at 22 from a source of motive power not shown. "Itwill be clear that motive power applied through the gearing 22 to the gear 2I will cause the belts or tapes 20 to move in the direction of the arrow A.

The rails I4 and I5are provided with T-slots 23. A bridge 24 for themounting of the ball carriages is mounted for longitudinal. adjustment, as best seen in Figure 5, by means of bolts 25 having the heads 26 which ride 'f'reely'in the T-slots 23. A knurled thumb nut 21 is provided to lock the bridge 24 many desired position. It will be clear that the construction of Figure 5 is repeated at the other end of the bridge 24.

Pins 28 are carried inholes in the bridge 24 and ball-carriages 29 are adjustably mounted on the pins '23, as best seen in Figure 2. The ball carriages may be L-shaped, having an aperture through one leg to accept the pin 28 and the ball carriage may be fastened in 'position by means of the thumb screw 30. A ball is retained in any suitable manner in the other. leg of the L-shaped carriage 29. A ball is indicated at 3|. It will be understood that the structure just described and shown in Fig'ure 2-is repeated transversely of the conveyor with 'a pair of ball carriers 29 for each of the webs or tapes '20. The end ones of the carriages 29 have secured'thereto the brackets 29a, which provide bearings for a supporting roller 2%. It will be noted that the roller 2% is slightly higher than the rollers I9, so as to cause the tapes 20 to slope-downwardly toward the latter. The purpose of this construction will be explained in connection with the cross-feed conveyor hereinafter. The function of these balls is to ride on the papers as they pass over the tapes 2!), backedup by'the roller 2%, so that sufiici'ent traction will be exerted by the tapes to advance the sheets. The purpose and advantages of longitudinal adjustability of these ball carriages will be discussed hereinafter in connection with the description of the cross-feed conveyor.

Vertical rods 32 are secured to the rails I4 and I5 and have a sliding bearing in a subfraine 33, best seen in Figure 2. 'By this construction the entire structure carried by the rails I 4 and I5 can be moved up and down in relation to the subframe '33. The rails I4'and I5 are supported in the following manner: "The subrrame '33 carries a pair of shafts 34 and 35 and each of these shafts carries a pair of dams or eccentrics 36. Each of the shafts Hand 35 also carries asprocket 37, which sprockets are connectedbyasprocke't chain 38. The shaft 34 is provided with a crank 3 8a and it will now be clear 'that'if the crank 38a is rotated through the cams or eccentrics 3'6 will'eome to the position shown in Figure '3. The rails I4 and I5 carry bearing plates 39 on which the entire conveyor framework is supported on the camsor'eccentrics'36. V

A second driving connection, indicated "generally at 22a and including the speed reducing gear, indicated generally at 221) terminates in a gear 220 journaled in a subframe 33 in such a position that whenthe conve or assembly is shifted from-the position of Figure2 to that of Figure 3. the gear 2| jis disengaged from the drive 22 and meshes instead with-the gear 220, which receives its power through the speed reducing gearing 22b.

In its lower position then, the tapes 20 will be driven at a very much slower rate of speed so that .the folded sheets-leaving the folding station will be stacked shinglewise on the conveyor 12, as indicated generally at 40.- Thus,'the conveyor 12 in its upper position serves to convey sheets from the-folding station! to the crossfeed conveyor, and in its lower position it serves as a creeping stacker. The change over is accomplishedby a simple 180 throw of the crank The cross-feed conveyor The. cross feedconveyor comprises a bed plate 4! whichfis of 'a length to extend between the rails l4 and I5. At one end a stud 42 is fixed thereon as by welding at 43' to provide a bearing for a sprocket 44. At its other end the plate 4| hasffixed to it a side plate 45. The plate 45 extends below the plate 4l and also has an upward extension 46. The "plate 45 carries a bearing bracket 41 and the extension 46 carries a bearing bracket 48 and a shaft 49 is journaled in bearings in the brackets 41 and 48. The shaft 49 carries a bevel gear 50 and a sprocket I.

The plate 45 also carries a bearing bracket 52 which forms a bearing for the shaft 53 which carriesa bevel gear. 54 arranged to mesh with the .bevel gear 50. The shaft 53 is provided with a spline or keyway 55 and'is the driving shaft for the cross conveyor.

Referring back to Figures 1 and 2, the shaft l6 also carries a bevel gear-Z56 which meshes with'a bevel gear 51, mounted on a shaft 58 to which is fixed a sleeve 59, provided withja key 60. The key 60 may be secured in placeas by 'aflscrew 6|. The shaft 58 is journaled'in a bearing bracket 62 secured to the rail l5, and the sleeve 59 is'joura naled'in a bearing bracket 63 alsosecured to the rail l5.' The spline shaft 53 engages in the sleeve 59 with the key 60 riding in the keyway 55. From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the cross-feed conveyor is driven concurrently with the first conveyor through the gearing 56, 5'1, shaft 58, sleeve 59, spline shaft 53 and the bevel gears 54,50 of, the shaft 49. A sprocket chain 64 passes around the sprockets 44 and 5| and the gripping means for-the leading folded edges of the sheets are provided in connection with'thesprocket chain 64; Referring'now more.

particularly to Figure 4, in connection with each link there is'provided "a floor plate 65 and an upper bracket 66. These'are secured'to the pins 61 which'connect the 1inks'68 of thesame. The chain is also provided-with an'exterior abutment surface constituted b'y'a band of rubbe'ror the like 69. The b'racket66 carries a spring-elementv plate 65. ad awhich bears againstthe floor cent the abutment surface 69'. Thetension in the springfll may be adjusted by means of the screw 'l I "as will be clear. Figure 4 being 'a' sectional view on-the line 44 of Figure 1, -it will be clear'that each link of the sprocket chain reproduces the same structure just now described, so that I provide in effecta whole series of gripping elements along the entire length of the chain. Since the floor plate 65 is spaced somewhat above the bedplatei4 I, I provide at the front of the bed plate 4| a guide plate 12 having aseries of tongues 13 which extend between the-tapes 20. These tongues preferably extend morelthan half-e way-along the conveyonand as best seen in Fi'gures 1 li'and' '12, theyi'iare "tilted. slightly in. :ithe,

direction showm It will be' noted that their edges 6 aresubstantially horizontal, and sincethe belts 29 slope downwardly somewhat, as described above, the higher edges of the tongues 13 will be below the plane of the belts in the region of the ball riders (see Figure 11), and above thekplane of the belts in'the vicinityof the cross-conveyor (see Figure 12). The tongues slope upwardly in the direction of thecrossfefed. The purpose of this construction is gradually to. transfer the weight of the sheets of paper from the belts 26 to the tongues 73, so that when the leading edges thereof are gripped in' the cross-conveyor, the sheets are resting substantially on the tongues only and the belts are hardly engaging them. Besides, there is no danger of the sheets becoming fouled in the belts during cross-feed by virtue of the slopes of the tongues. In machines of considerable size, it may be desirable to provide additional support for the tongues 13, as by means of a supporting rod 13a suitably mounted on the framework.

- As clearly shown in Figure 4, a folded sheet S moving on the tapes 20 in the direction of the arrow slides up over the tongues 13 and is-fed into the space between the floor plate 65 and the spring member ML-until it abuts the abutment strip 69. a

I Adjustment The entire cross-feed conveyor mechanism is adjustable longitudinally of the rails l4 and 15 by means of the T-bolts'l4' (Figure 7) which ride in the slots 23, described above. The conveyor maybe fixed in any desired longitudinal position by means of the knurled'thumb nuts 15.

Knowingthe'length in the direction of the arrow A of the folded sheets, the cross feedrconveyor is adjusted as abovedescribed, longitudi nally of the rails l4 and 15, so that'when the folded sheet 'is moved off at right'angles toward the folding station I I, it will be presented thereto substantially centrally. "'Ihe'ball carriage structure heretofore described is then adjusted longitudinally of therails l4 and'l5, so that" the balls engage the paper sheets up to the point where their "leading folded edges are 'abutted against the abutment strip 69. Just at that point the balls clear the trailing edges of'the sheets. It will thus be seen that the sheets are positively fed into gripping engagement between the members 69 and 10, until the, leading edges abut the strip 69. The folded sheets then,-engaged along the leading edges only, andwith nothing but the weight of the sheets resting on the webs 20,are moved off in the direction of the arr-ow B. If i for some reason or another a sheet should become slightly misaligned asby having one or the other end pulled out of engagement with the abutment strip 69, the trailing edge of the sheet opposite the misaligned portion will .immediately come under one of the balls 3| and will thusbe again fed into abutment with the strip 69. I

The screws H are adjusted to the point where they will together firmly hold the sheet along its. leading edge and yet so that a single pair; of members 65, 10 can be pulled out of engagement with the sheet when their particular link of the chain starts to move around the sprocket to the point indicated at in Figure 1 This adjustment is not diflicult to make because it will be seen that the sheet is gripped by perhaps 10 or l2 pairs of members65, "land that whentheleading link starts tomove around the sprocket, the

remaining links, which still engage, the shect can holdit while the leading,linkisstrippedofh Of our he-i agine these: aware W.

encountered. I a

InFigure 13 I have shown a modified ball car- 7 riage assembly, in which the ball carriages 29 are again mounted upon arod 28a, but here the rod 28a, constitutes one leg of a bell crank, having anotherfarm 28b extending, for example, at a right angle thereto. Each of the bell cranks 28a+28b is mounted upon a rod 280 which extends between the uprights 28d, the rod 280 and uprights 2811- together corresponding to the bridge 24. Rollers 28c are mounted on the ends of the arms 28b, and when the first conveyor is to operate as a creeping stacker, the rod 280 is rotatedcounterclockwise so that the rollers 23c 'ride'on tapes and then on the sheets being stacked, with-the conveyor in its lower position, as indicated in FigureB. The advantageof this modification is that the rollers 28c and tapes 20, or preceding stacked sheets, coact'to form stops for the leading edges of sheets fed from the station l0. These sheets may come fast, and the above described arrangement causes the sheets to be arrested and evenly stacked.

When the cross-feed conveyor is not being used, as in a stacking operation, I provide means for carrying the sheets over the cross-conveyor assembly, In'Figure '10I have shown a rod 85 pivoted on the cross-conveyor frame. The rod 85 is provided with a series of fingers 86 equal in number andspacing tothe tongues '13. During a stacking'opera'tion, the rod '85 may be rotated counterclockwiseto cause the fingers 86 to occupy the broken line position of Figure 10, in which their ends will ,rest'on thetongues "l3. Stacked sheetsare thuspushed up over the crossconveyor and may 'then'be caught in a suitable pan diagrammatically indicated at 81.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that my machine is capable of handling multiple work. Where small sheets are to be operated upon, twoior more such sheets may be fed along the first conveyorllz side by side, and they will be fed laterally by the'cross-co'nveyor l3 in single file. Itwill also be noted that the cross-conveyor accepts "the sheets while both it and the 7 sheets are in motion.

It --will 'be clearthat numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and that many minor modifications will suggest; themselves to anyone skilled in the art. For these reasons, I do'notin tend to limit myself to the specific structure or mechanism described except as pointed out in the claims which follow.

Having now-fully described my invention, what. I claim as new .and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet material handling machine having at least two spaced operating stations dis-' 7 posed at right angles to each-other, a conveyor to receive sheet material from one of said' operating stations and to advance it toward the other, said conveyor being mounted on a frame; a cross-feed conveyor 'to'receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to ad- Vance it at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said'crossfeed conveyor beingmountedon abase positioned on said'frame; said 'cro'ss'f-feed'conve qr compris a ing an endl'es'sbelt traveling aboi t twovertical axes mounted on said crossdeedconveyor base and presenting'inits feeding flight avertical abutment surface for the leading edges of said sheet materiaL-and-grippi-ng means for the leading edge of 7 said sheet material associated; with said belt, said beltbeingmounted-on a-chain, said vertical axes "carrying sprockets engaging said chain, and said chain carrying for each link thereof, a floor; plate upon which the leading edge of said sheet material is supported.

2-. A sheet material handling'ma-chine according'to claim 1, in which said 'chaincarries also, for each link and .fioor plate, a spring element disposed to bear against said floor plate adjacent said belt to grip the leading edge of said sheet material. 7 s p 3. A sheet material handling machine according to claim 2, in which'said spring elements are adjustable to vary the pressure with which the leading edgexof said sheetfmaterial is gripped against'said floor plates. a

'4. .A sheet material handling machine accord ing to claim 3,'in which said cross-feed conveyor said first'mentioned conveyor and to advance'it atright angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positioned on saidframe; said cro ss feed conveyor comprising an endless chaintraveli'ng about'two vertical axes mounted on said cross-feed conveyor base at right anglesto the line of travel of sheet material advanced by said first mentioned conveyor, and an endless friction faced abutment strip mounted onsaid chain so as to present in its feeding flight a vertical abutment surface for the leading edges of said sheet material; and registering means located adjacent the trailing edge of said.

sheet material when the leading edge is engaged with said abutment strip.

6.'A machine according to claim 5 in which said chain carries for each link thereof, guide 'rnea'ns for the leading edgeiof said. sheet materiaL-said guide means comprising a floor plate upOnwhich said leading edge is supported and a spring, element adjacent said floor plate and spaced therefrom sufficiently topermit said leading edgeto abutagainstsaidstrip when said trailing edge clears said registering means.

7; In a sheet material handling machine having at least two spaced operating stations disposed at :right angles to each other, a conveyor to receive sheet material fro n oneof said operating stations and to advance it toward the other; said conveyor beingmounted on a frame; a cross-feed conveyor to receive saidsheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to advance it at right angles to its original-direction of travel to saidsecond operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being'mountedon a base positioned on said frame, said cross-feed conveyor having means ior gripping 'saidsheet material along its leading-edge only; axsour'ce of motive power for said machine and a'disengageable driving connection nom' said source to said first mentioned conveyor, and in which 'saidconveyoras a unit may be disengaged from said connection and moved to a lowerposition, there being a second driving connection; from said source including speed reducing means, said conveyor in its lower position engaging said. second driving connection whereby sheet material delivered to said conveyor from the first of said operating stations is stacked thereon shinglewise as in a creeping stacker; said cross-feed conveyorbase being'removable from said frame and said first mentioned conveyor when the latter is to be used as a creeping stacker. 7 a v,

8. In a sheet material handling machine having at least two spaced operating stations dis-v posed at right angles to each other, a conveyor to receive sheet material fromone ofsaid operating stations and to advance it toward the other, said conveyor being mounted'on a;frame; a crossfeed conveyor to receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to advance it at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positioned on said frame, said: cross-feed conveyor having means for gripping said sheet material along its leading edge only; a source of motive power for said machine and a disengageable driving connection from said source to. said first mentioned conveyor, and inwhich said conveyor as a unit may be disengaged from said connection and moved to a lower position, there being a second driving connection from said source including speed reducing means, said conveyor in its lower position engaging said second driving connection whereby sheet material delivered to said conveyor from the first of said-operating stations is stacked thereonshinglewise as in-a creeping stacker; and deflector means provided in connection with said cross-feed conveyor, said deflector means having an out-of-the-way position,

and being movable to a-position extending over said cross-feed conveyor, to deflect sheets thereover when said firstlr'nentioned conveyor is in its lower position. v v I 9. A device according to claim 8, in which said deflector means comprises a rod pivoted on said cross-feed conveyor base and having a series of curved fingers. I I

10. A sheet material handling machine comprising a pair of spaced operating stations disposed at right angles to each other, a conveyor disposed after one operating station of said pair to receive sheet material therefrom and toadvance it to a position for delivery at right angles to the other operating station of said pair, a cross conveyor disposed to receive sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and advance it at right angles to its then direction of travel to said other operating station, a source of motive power for said machine and a disengageable driving connection between said source of power and said first mentioned conveyor, a second driving connection with said source of power through a speed reducing means for said first mentioned conveyor, and means for shifting said first mentioned conveyor to a lower position in which said first. driving connection is disengaged and said second driving connection is engaged to drive said first mentioned conveyor at 'a relatively slow speed, whereby sheet materialdelivered from said one operating station to, said first mentioned conveyor is stacked thereon shinglewise.

11. A sheet material handling machine according to claim 10, in which said first mentioned conveyor is driven by a gear forming part of the conveyor unit and shiftable with said conveyor, and in which said driving connection terminates in a gear which will mesh with said first men tioned gear, said first mentioned gear in the upper position of said conveyor meshing with the terminal gear ofsaid first mentioned driving connection, and in the lowerposition of said conveyor meshing withthe terminal gear of said driving connection which includes the speed reducing means.

12. A'sheet material handling machine: according to claim 1Q,"iI 11WhiCh Sa,id first mentioned conveyor unit is vertically slidable on a subframe, cam means on said subfram e', said conveyor unit resting on said cam means,and means for actuating said cam means selectively to shift said conveyor unitto itsupper or lower position.

13. A sheet material handling machine according to claim 12, in which there are at least two pairs of cam means, each pair being on 'acommon shaft, and an operative connection between said shafts whereby said cammeans are caused to operate in synchronism.

1 4. In a sheet material handling machine having at least two-spaced operating stations disposed at right angles to each other, a conveyor to receive sheet material from one of said operating stations and to advance it toward the other, said conveyor being mountedon a frame; a cross feed conveyor to receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and toadvanceit at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positioned on said frame, said cross-feed conveyor having means for gripping said sheet material along its leading edge only; and defiector means provided in connection with said cross-feed conveyor, said defiector means having an out-of-the-way position, and being movable to ;a position extending over said cross-feed conveyor, to deflect sheetsv thereover, said deflector means comprising a rod pivoted on said cross-feed conveyor base and having a series of curved fingers.

15. In a sheet material handling machine having at least two spaced operating stations dis-' posed at right angles to each other, a conveyor. to receive sheet material from one of said operating stations and to advance ittoward the other, said conveyor being mounted on a frame; a crossfeed conveyor to receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to advance it at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feet conveyor being mounted on a base positionedon said frame, said cross-feed conveyor. having means for gripping said-sheet material along its leading edge only; a plurality of ballsarranged.

to bear against said first mentioned conveyor, said balls being mounted in ball carriages with said-balls aligned transversely of'said conveyor,- said balls cooperating with said conveyor to. advance said sheet materialya-common mounting for said ball carriages, said mounting being adjustable longitudinally ofsaid conveyor whereby said transverse line ofballs may be set at' any desired position longitudinally thereof and a roller supported by said, mounting, said roller being positioned to underlie said line of balls beneath said conveyor. 7

' 16. In a sheet material-handling machine hava 11 said conveyor being mounted on a frame; a crossfeed conveyor to receive said sheet'material from said first mentioned conveyor and to advance it at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positionedon said frame, said crossefeed conveyor having means for gripping said sheet material along its leading edge only; a plurality of balls arranged to bear against said first mentioned conveyor, said balls being mounted in-ball carriages with said balls aligned transversely, of said conveyor, said balls cooperating with said conveyor to advance said sheet material, said ball carriages having a common mounting which is adjustable longitudinally of said conveyor, said mounting being positioned with respect to said conveyor so that when the leading edge of said sheet material is gripped by said cross conveyor, said transverse line of balls just clears the trailing edge of said sheet materiahwherebyanytendency of said sheet material to'becorne misaligned with respect to said cross conveyor will be continuously corrected.

17. In a sheet material handling machine having at least twospaced operating stations dis posed at right angles to each other, a conveyor to receive sheet material from one of said operat- 7 ing stations and to advance it toward the other, said conveyor being mounted'on a'frame; a cross feed conveyor to receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to advance it at right angles to its original direction of travel to said second operatingstation, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positioned on said frame, said cross-feed conveyor having means for gripping said sheet material along its leading edge only; a source of motive power for said machine and a disengageable driving connection from said source to said first mentioned conveyor, and in which said, conveyor as a unit may be disengaged from said connection and moved to alower position, therebeing a second driving connection from said source including speed reducing means, said conveyor in itslowerposition engaging. said second driving connecion whereby sheet material delivered to said conveyor from the first of said operating stations is stacked thereon shinglewise as in a creeping stacker; and a plurality of balls arranged to bearagainst said first mentioned conveyor, said balls being mounted in ball carriages with said balls aligned. transversely of said conveyor, said balls cooperating with said conveyor to advance said sheet material, said ballcarriages being mounted on bell, cranks on the other arms of which rollers are mounted, said bell, cranks being fixed on a rod pivoted on said machine frame, whereby upon rotation ofsaid rod, said ball carriages maybe disengaged fromsaid conveyor, and said rollers engaged therewith, so that when said conveyor is moved to its lower position said rollers cooperate with said conveyor to arrest said delivered sheet material and thus control the stacking of said sheet material upon said conveyor. 18. In a sheet material handling machinehav ing at least two spaced operatingstations disposed at. right angles to eachother, a conveyor to receive sheet. material from one of said operating stations and to advance it toward the other,

said conveyor being mounted on a frame; a crossfeed conveyor to receive said sheet material means for gripping said sheet material along its leading edge only; said first mentioned conveyor comprising a plurality of relatively narrow belts and in which a plurality of tongues extend between said belts from said cross-feed conveyor base.

19. A device according to, claim 18, in which said-belts and tongues are not parallel in the vertical plane, and in whichsaid belts slope downwardly with respect to said tongues in the direction of movement of said-belts, whereby the highest parts of said tongues are below the plane of said belts at the ends of said tongues, andthe highest parts ofsaidtongues are above the plane of said belts adjacent said cross feed conveyor.

ZOQA device according to claim 18, in which said tongues are slightly; canted upward in the direction of travel of said cross-feed conveyor, whereby the lower edges of said tongues are below the plane of said belts throughout their length, and the upperedges thereof are below 7 21. In a sheet material handling machine hav- 7 ing at least two spaced operating stations disposed at right angles to each other, a conveyor to receive sheet material from one of said operating stations and to advance it toward the other, said conveyor being mounted on a frame; a crossfeed conveyor to receive said sheet material from said first mentioned conveyor and to ad-- vance it at right angles tofi'ts original direction of travel to said second operating station, said cross-feed conveyor being mounted on a base positioned on said frame, said cross-feed conveyor having means forgripping said sheet ma-- terial along its leadingedge only; said first men'- tioned conveyor comprising a plurality of relatively narrow belts and in which 'a plurality of tongues extend between said belts from said crossfeed conveyor basejand a number of curved fingers equal to the number of said tongues, said fingersbeing pivoted at the rear of said crossfeed conveyor base, said fingers thus having an out-of-the-Way position, and being capable of being swung oversaid cross-feed conveyor to a point where their ends rest on said tongues, whereby said sheet material may be diverted over said cross-feed conveyor.

WALTER FRED GATES,

- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS- 

